Search location by ZIP code

NEWS ARCHIVE

Des Moines preps for major concert one day after Manchester bombing

Security is tighter at entertainment venues across the country in the wake of a deadly terror attack in Manchester Arena.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 10:18 PM CDT May 23, 2017

Des Moines preps for major concert one day after Manchester bombing

Security is tighter at entertainment venues across the country in the wake of a deadly terror attack in Manchester Arena.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 10:18 PM CDT May 23, 2017

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT Excited Red Hot Chili Peppers fans ... got in line early ...<WHEN WE GO THROUGH THE SCANNERS AND THEMETAL DETECTORS, ALTHOUGH A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A PAIN, IUNDERSTAND IT'S FOR THE SAFETYOF ALL OF US.>Hundreds lining up hours before the concert.<I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE FLEE THE BASEPLAYER.>This father son pair says theyhad no reservation about coming tonight.<I KNOW THATWE HAVE SECURITY TO TAKE CARE OFUS AND THERE'S A LOT OF AWARENESS OUT THERE SO THEREWILL BE PEOPLE LOOKING OUT FORUS SO I THINK WE'RE SAFE.>Wells Fargo Arena officials wouldn't get specific on howthey are beefing up security ...But the large police presence out front was obvious.<ANYTHING THATLOOKS OUT OF PLACE OR ISREPORTED TO US WE ARE FULLY OBLIGATED TO INVESTIGATE THAT.> More than 11- thousand people packed inside the arena.Security experts say the best thing concert goers can do is have situational awareness ...<LOOK FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WEARING BULKYCOATS IN THE SUMMER. IT'S LIKETHAT DOESN'T BELONG, AND THE"SAY SOMETHING, SEE SOMETHING"CAMPAIGN IS REALLY GOOD TO DO.> For now die hard concert goerssay fear won't consume them ... They'll continue to enjoy the music they love.<IF YOU START THINKING ABOUT IT TOO MUCH THEN YOU JUST GET CONSUMED ABOUT IT -YOU'VE GOT TO MOVE ON. AS TRAGICAS IT WAS.>

Des Moines preps for major concert one day after Manchester bombing

Security is tighter at entertainment venues across the country in the wake of a deadly terror attack in Manchester Arena.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 10:18 PM CDT May 23, 2017

DES MOINES, Iowa —

Security is tighter at entertainment venues across the country in the wake of a deadly terror attack in Manchester Arena.

At least 22 people died after a suicide bomber set off a blast Monday at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England.

Thousands of people are packed into Wells Fargo Arena on Tuesday for the Red Hot Chili Peppers concert.

Advertisement

Most concertgoers said they were not going to let fear keep them from coming and enjoying a good concert, and that they trust the security there to keep them safe.

“When we go through the scanners and the metal detectors, although a little bit more of a pain, I understand it's for the safety of all of us,” concertgoer Josh Timmer said.

Hundreds of excited Red Hot Chili Peppers fans lined up hours before the concert. Dan Hunt, who took his son to the concert, said he had no reservation about coming.

“I know that we have security to take care of us and there's a lot of awareness out there,” Hunt said. “So there will be people looking out for us, so I think we're safe.”

Wells Fargo Arena officials would not get specific on how they beefed up security, but the large police presence out front was obvious.

“Anything that looks out of place or is reported to us, we are fully obligated to investigate that,” Des Moines Police Sgt. Jeff Cronan said.

More than 11,000 people packed inside Wells Fargo Arena for the concert. Security experts said the best thing concertgoers can do is have situational awareness.

“Look for people who are wearing bulky coats in the summer,” said Tom Conley, of The Conley Group Inc. “It's like, that doesn't belong, and the (see something, say something) campaign is really good to do.”

For now, die-hard concertgoers said fear will not consume them, and they will continue to enjoy the music they love.

“If you start thinking about it too much, then you just get consumed about it,” concertgoer Ike Akers said. “You've got to move on, as tragic as it was.”

The Des Moines bomb squad was spotted by KCCI news crews doing a sweep of Wells Fargo Arena with their bomb dogs.

Des Moines police said they do not perform sweeps before every concert, but did the sweep Tuesday in light of the Manchester attack.